Traditional Seminoles want lifestyle protected

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Danny Billie, spokesperson, for the Independent Traditional Seminole

Nation, stood solemnly throughout the Collier County, Florida,

commission meeting, waiting for a chance to speak.

Through long hours of county business, Billie stood. His stance all

the more poignant, because Billie had just completed a three-day walk

designed to draw attention to the planned destruction of his way of life

as a traditional Native American.

The commission chamber was filled with Billie's family, Indigenous

people--some coming from as far away as Ontario in the north and Amazon

in the south--and other supporters who had just completed the 62 km walk

with Billie. Under attack are the homes of approximately 20 people who

live on two hectares of land in an agricultural area in the county.

These people are members of Independent Traditional Seminoles in

Florida.

Building code inspectors insist that the homes of the Seminoles,

traditional thatched-roof "chickees," do not meet electrical, plumbing

and building standards. Code violations, they say, include open

electrical wires and inadequate sanitation systems.

But a cable news network, CNN, reported in February that electricity is

supplied to the chickees from a metered pole through buried lines that

were professionally installed. There are two septic tanks to service

the 20 people in the village.

The Traditional Seminoles believe the code violations are an excuse to

have the people removed from the area to make room for a landfill which

is planned for a spot near the village.

"What's happening to us is the continuation of what Christopher

Columbus started 503 years and seven months ago," Billie said. "They

are trying to take the last things that are a part of our lifestyle, the

lifestyle we love."

County officials believe that Billie's lifestyle is not traditional

because it includes modern conveniences. Citing health and safety

reasons, the county wants the structures brought up to date.

"They are putting our health and safety into jeopardy by enforcing

foreign building codes on us.," Billie argued. Traditional chickees

have survived hurricanes that have left modern homes throughout southern

Florida devastated.

"The government thinks (food and shelter) comes from the companies,"

said Bobbie C. Billie, the Seminole village's spiritual leader. "It

comes from Mother Earth. We came from this earth and we can't get away

from it."

The Traditional Seminole Nation rejected federal recognition and the

corporate structure of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which formed in

1957. The traditional families are eligible for most of the tribe's

services, but do not participate in tribal government, tribal gaming or

collect the monthly dividend distributed to tribal members.

"Once you sign with the government, you've sold yourself down the

road," said Danny Billie. The traditional Seminoles say they never

agreed to be part of the county and have signed no agreement giving up

their sovereignty and self-determination.

But county officials claim the Seminoles gave up rights to

self-determination by choosing to live off the reservation.

"There are reservation lands set aside by the federal government where

they can live any way they want," said county commissioner Tim

Constantine.

"This is not an option for the Traditional Seminoles," said Danny

Billie "(The tribe) broke away from us."

Before the Seminole Tribe of Florida was established, traditional

Seminole people lived throughout southern Florida, including the Naples

area. The Independent Traditional Seminole Nation is made up of about

200 members and today lives in small groups in Florida.

"Florida is the homeland of the Seminole people," states a letter from

the Florida chapter of the American Indian Movement. "They are not

refugees to this continent... (Your) efforts to force these traditional

people to assimilate ...(is) the epitome of arrogance."

But arrogance is not reserved for the county government alone. A woman

waiting to address the commision on another issue refused to sign a

petition to support the Traditional Seminoles.

"They're renegades," she said. "If they were traditional reservation

Indians, I would be all for them."

Commission chairman Tom Norris opposes an exemption to the codes.

"I can't choose to go out in the agricultural area and live in a

chickee because of my race," Norris said. "I thought discrimination was

a thing of the past."

Failure to comply with county codes costs $250 per day. The Seminoles

also face eviction and the destruction of their village. They live on

land owned y Pacific Land Company, which leases it to the village for $1

per year.

This is part of an agreement reached generations ago between

Traditional Seminoles and the land owner. Pacific Land Company has

declined comment, but so far has not forced the Seminoles to comply with

the county.

If Collier County proceeds with code enforcement action, they will have

a fight on their hands.

"You cannot brush aside and do away with the first people of this

continent," Danny Billie told the commission. "We want justice. We

have our own self-determination. We are not asking for that right. We

are telling you that we have (it)."

Florida AIM may urge a tourism boycott if the county continues to

threaten the Seminoles. Whatever happens, they have pledged their

support.

"From Navarez in 1493 to Greasy Grass in 1875, to Wounded Knee in 1973

to Oka in 1990 to Fort McDowell in 1992, Indigenous people have

resisted," Florida AIM warned the commission. "And AIM has had the

honor assisting in that resistance since 1968."

International sentiment agrees.

"I don't understand (why) Indigenous people have to walk and walk and

walk, " said Christina Gualinga, representing the people of the Amazon,

"(just) to reclaim what is naturally ours."